Not always to the swiftest: how Bauer 'won' the Cup

By Tom Reilly

Connections of cup runner-up Bauer were stunned to learn that he travelled the two miles at Flemington in a quicker time than winner Viewed — only to lose the race by the flare of a nostril.

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The two horses flashed past the post together on Tuesday and were separated only after stewards studied a high-resolution image that showed Bart Cummings' runner just millimetres ahead on the line.

But the official timings told a different story. According to microchips inserted into the saddle cloths on all the gallopers, Bauer travelled the course in 3 minutes, 20.40 seconds — with Viewed one hundredth of a second behind.

The times recorded are accurate, with the microchips sending a signal to a cable placed under the track at 200-metre intervals.

"The difference came about because the timing devices are in the saddles, whereas the judges decide who has won the race by which horse's head crosses the line first: sadly our guy is a bit smaller than Viewed," explained Simon O'Donnell, one of Bauer's owners.

While Bauer stands at a diminutive 15 hands 3 inches, which means he is 1.6 metres from the ground to his withers, Viewed is 16 hands. "In racing they say millimetres can mean millions and I guess what happened to Bauer proves it," said O'Donnell, a former Australian cricketer.

The difference was $2,465,000, with prize money of $3.3 million for the winner and $835,000 for second.

"But … we were all delighted with the way he ran and it was a massive thrill to get so close," O'Donnell said.

When told of the anomaly yesterday, 81-year-old Cummings, who claimed his 12th cup with Viewed's victory, said: "Oh, that's all too technical for me."

Francesca Cumani, who oversaw Bauer's preparation following his arrival from England five weeks ago, was philosophical. "I guess if we come back next year we'll have to bring horses with long necks and big heads," she joked.

The official time of the race will now be recorded as Viewed's.

A similar case arose at the 1988 cup, when Natski, a small bay, was pipped by New Zealand giant Empire Rose. The photo finish showed Natski's rump ahead of Empire Rose's, but the mare's long neck got her over the line.

Tuesday's result could at least bring a new variant on an old joke.

A horse walks into a bar and the bartender says, "Why the long face?" Answer: To win the Melbourne Cup.